CIFA will showcase the potential of hybrid-electric technology at Bauma 2022, at the stand of its parent company Zoomlion. It was at Bauma 2013 that CIFA presented its first Energya E9 hybrid-electric concrete truck mixer with rechargeable batteries mounted on a diesel truck. CIFA expanded the Energya series by launching the Energya Spritz CSSE casting system and Energya MK28E truck mixer pump at Bauma 2016 and 2019, respectively. The manufacturer will follow this trend and unveil a new Energya machine at Bauma 2022.
The Energya series of machines combines diesel and electric power to reduce fuel consumption and emissions while transporting and placing concrete. In conventional cement mixers the movement of the drum is generated by a hydraulic system. In Energya mixers, the functions of drum rotation or concrete pumping are driven by an electric induction motor that receives energy from a lithium ion battery. Charging times vary depending on the technologies used to restore vitality to the batteries: 1 hour (high speed plug-in) using the special quick charge column designed by CIFA and installed at the batching plant; and about 8 hours from any 220V industrial outlet, easily available even on site. In case of public recharging columns, the time varies according to the available power. Energya machines are equipped with kinetic energy recovery system, which during vehicle deceleration allows recovery of the energy to be sent to the batteries.
During loading operations in batching plants and unloading phases on construction sites, the diesel engine of the truck can be switched off. During the transport phase, when necessary, the diesel engine recharges the electric battery, thus ensuring operating autonomy to the truck mixer.
By using electric power, the noise of the diesel engine in the loading and unloading phases is completely eliminated. In the electric mode, the perceived noise is halved (up to 10 dB less).
Under typical operating conditions on construction sites, Energya machines can provide savings up to 30% (6,000 litres/year) compared to conventional machines. The savings calculation is based on one year of work of the Energya truck mixer (250 days of work with an average of 56 km of journey per day).
Truck-mounted pumps
The CIFA range of truck-mounted pumps includes models with boom lengths ranging from 20m to 80m, divided into two main lines: the Carbotech series and Steeltech series. The Carbontech series of pumps have boom lengths ranging from 40m to 80m and use carbon fiber to increase sturdiness, reduce weight and oscillation. The Steeltech series of pumps have boom lengths ranging from 20m to 63 m and offers the possibility of outfitting a wide range of accessories.
At Bauma 2022, CIFA will launch the new Steeltech K50L pump and showcase the Carbotech K60H and K47H pumps at the Zoomlion stand.
Underground concrete equipment
CIFA will have a stand dedicated to its new range of concrete machines for the mining and tunnelling sector. In this category, each of CIFA’s Spritz pumps and concrete mixers has been named after an animal, in accordance with its features, such as Elk, Dingo, Rhino, Mantis and Coguaro (Cougar). At Bauma 2022, CIFA will unveil a fully automated Spritz pump called the ‘Mamba’.
Machine management and remote monitoring systems
The CIFA Smartronic electronic management system enables management and monitoring of all truck-mounted pump and mixer pump features. Smartronic ensures that every operation takes place in complete safety, from stabilization to unfolding the boom and pumping the concrete. Auto RPM function ensures that the machine always works in fuel-saving mode during pumping, boom operation and stabilisation. The Automatic Stabilisation Control (ASC) system integrated into Smartronic monitors the machine’s stability in real time when the stabilisers cannot be completely opened due to lack of space on the construction site. This smart system maximises the area the boom can reach in order to cast concrete under safe conditions, slowing down or even stopping the boom’s movements before stability is compromised. The Max Boom Extension (MBE) function gives the operator the maximum distance that can be reached with the boom with partial opening of the outriggers, before opening the boom.
The CIFA Vista remote monitoring system enables control of the entire concrete supply chain, from production to laying. CIFA Vista collects machine data and displays it on an interface through which the position, activities and various operating parameters of the machines can be monitored to enable troubleshooting, aftersales support management and preventive maintenance. The data available are both real-time data from the machine and those previously stored so that the evolution of multiple parameters, such as daily productivity or fuel consumption, can be compared and kept under control. Thus, customers have all the information on their fleet at hand, and dealers have access to data on customers machines so that preventive maintenance can be programmed according to the amount of concrete pumped and hours worked.